Friday, October 15, 2010

Protea has been created to develop the relationship between the French and South African scientific communities through joint research. The purpose of the co-operative programme is to encourage an exchange between researchers and to develop a synergy between the two scientific communities, thereby developing a durable network.

The co-operative research projects funded under this agreement are developed and submitted in both countries by French and South African researchers, working as partner teams and headed by two team leaders, one French and one South African, who bear the main responsibility for the project, including its technical and administrative coordination as well as scientific and financial reporting. In South Africa this call is open to Msc-holding (preferable PhD) researchers residing in the country and affiliated with a recognised higher education or research institution such as a university, university of technology or science council. No applications will be accepted from private companies.

Each co-operative research project will run for a maximum duration of two years. Each project will aim to fulfil well-defined contractual objectives and will have to dispose of the necessary means to ensure that these objectives are effectively achieved.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Only applications endorsed by the research office or its equivalent at higher education or research institutions will be accepted. The projects by the South African teams will be submitted to the National Research Foundation, while the projects by the French teams will be submitted to Ministry for Higher Education and Researchand to the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs. On the French side, the projects will be assessed by the Ministry for Higher Education and Research. The deadline for submission of the projects will be 10 December 2010 and only those projects submitted within the prescribed time limit will be considered.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The projects will be submitted, in each country, to a panel of experts in the various fields of research represented by the proposals received. These experts will take into account the following criteria:

• Scientific and technical merit• Feasibility• International significance• Participation of students and young researchers• Budget

FUNDING

Funding from France will be available for financing the return ticket from France to South Africa and the accommodation and subsistence of South African Scientists, doctorants or pos-doctorants in France :- The travel from France to South Africa will be reimbursed up to 1500 € per return ticket.- Doctorals and pos doctorals daily allowances of 60€/day up to 90 days- Scientists daily allowances of 110€/day up to 28 days.Funding from SA will be available for financing the return ticket from South Africa to France and the accommodation and subsistence of French Scientists, doctorals or pos-doctoral students in SA :- The travel from South Africa to France will be reimbursed up to R15000 per return ticket. - Masters, Doctoral and pos doctoral students: Accommodation of R500 per day up to 10 daysand a once of payment of R20000 for up to 30 days stay- Scientist’s daily allowances of R400/day up to 30 days.- Workshop costs should not exceed R25000 per workshop- Consumable costs should not exceed R20000 over two years.

APPLICATION FORMS

South African submissions:

Application forms for South African applicants may be downloaded electronically from the NRF website (http://www.nrf.ac.za/).NO HARD COPIES ARE ALLOWED/ACCEPTED! A soft copy (max 1.44mb file size) of the South African team's project proposal should be submitted, in English, to: Ms Lee-Anne Seymour;Seymour@nrf.ac.za. The scanned signature page should be sent as an attachment.